Apparatus for printing on bottles



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE..

vISAAC L. MILES, OF GHARLESTOWN, MASSACHUSETTS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 56,593, dated July 24,1866.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ISAAC L. MILES, of Charlestown, in the county ofMiddlesex and State ot' Massachusetts, have invented an Apparatus forPrinting on Bottles, Boxes, Gans, Ste., of which the following is afull, clear, and exact description, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, making part of this specication', in which-Figure l is'a perspective view, of the apparatus which I employ, abottle being represented (in red) in a position for being printed upon.Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section through the center of the same. Fig. 3is a section on the line .fr of Fig. 2, looking in the direction of thearrows 5. Fig. 4is a section on the line y y of Fig. 3, looking in thedirection of the arrows 6. Y

It has heretofore been the practice, when a bottle, box, can, or otherarticle was to be marked or labeled, either to employ a stencilplate orprint a label and afterward paste it on, thus involving two separateoperations.

AThe object of my invention is to dispense with a portion of this labor;and it consists in printing directly on the article by means of ayielding or elastic type, with the surface of which the bottle or otherarticle is brought in contact, suitable guides or ways being provided,which may be raised or lowered to bring the article to the proper heightfor receiving the impression, the distance of which from the end of thearticle being regulated by an adjustable slide or gage operated by anysuitable device, by which means the article is permanently marked in aconvenient and expeditious manner, and a considerable reduction in thecost of marking the article is thereby effccted.

To enable others skilled in the art to understand and use my invention,I will proceed to describe the manner in which I have carried it out.

In the said drawings, A represents a box or casing, in the center of thetop of which is cut a square slot for the passage of an uprightstandard, B, which carries the bed C, for the reception ofthe elastictype-block D. This standard B passes through a transverse block, E,which is secured to longitudinal strips F,

screwed to the under side of the top of the apparatus.

G is a cleat which serves to guide the standard B as it is movedvertically up and down by means of a lever, H, the inner end of whichlits into the lower end ofthe standard B, while its outer end passesthrough the front of the casing, in which it is pivoted, and is providedwith a knob or handle; and it is by the abovedescribed arrangement thatthe type-block D is raised when the type is to be inked.

a are slots or openings which extend out to the front of the apparatus,as seen in Figs. l and 4.

I is a flat strip, the bottom of ,which is secured to square pieces J,which slide longitudinally in the slots a, and are connected by across-bar, K, through each end of which and each side of the center ofthe front of the casing is bored a hole for the reception of a screw,

b, the extremity of which is confined by a fastening, c, Figs. 3 and 4,in the block E.

d is a cross-piece which serves to guide the vinner ends of the piecesJ, which are thus moved back and forth, carrying with them the strip I,which serves as a guide or gage for regulating the distance of theprinting from the end of the bottle. (seen in red, Fig. 1,) which israised or lowered to accommodate itself to the type in a manner now. tobe explained.

In the top of the casing A, and extending longitudinally therewith, arecut narrow slots e, through which rise the sliding bars L, which areunited by connecting-bars M, which serve as ways upon which to roll thebottle or other article to be printed on.

Through each side of the casing A pass the screws N, the ends of whichpress the longitudinal bars O, Fig. 3, against the sliding bars L andclamp them against the strips F, whereby they are held securely in theright position for bringing the bottle in contact with the surface ofthe type.

fare screws, upon which rests the type-bed C, and by which thetype-block D is adj usted. These screws f are operated when the ways Mrest on the top of the box, and the thickness of the type-block employedis such that it requires to be raised to the level of the top of theways; but where a type-block of sufficient thickness is used thesescrews may be dispensed with.

I?, Q, and R are cleats, which serve to guide and keep in place the barsO and pieces J.

Operation: The lever H being depressed, the elastic type is raised abovethe level of the ways M and the ink applied to the type in a Awell-known manner. The distance of the impression from the end of thebottle or other article being determined, the gage I is adjusted to itsrequired position by operating the screws b, as before described, andthe bottle or other article is placed on the ways M. The article is nowrolled over in contact with or pressed upon the surface of the elastictype, thus receiving` the impression, which, before being allowed todry, is lightly rubbed over with a powder of bronze or other suitablepreparation, applied by a brush, cushion, or in any other convenientmanner.

When a bottle to be marked is intended to contain a substance ofa colorwhich would not contrast sufficiently with the color of the bronze, thebronze may be dispensed with and an ink applied to the type of adifferent color,

from that of'the substance which the bottle is intended to hold.

In practice I prefer to use an ink containing about equal proportions ofprinters gold-size, Japan varnish, copal varnish, and printers varnish,with the desired coloring-matter incorporated therewith, as such inkwill dry rapidly, which is not the case with the ordinary printerls inkcontaining lam p-black.

Instead of the gage I being movable, it may be permanently attached tothe casing A, and the distance of the printing` from the end of thebottle or other article be Varied by means of strips ot' differentwidths placed between the gage and the article to be printed on.

In making the elastic type referred to I prefer to use the following`ingredients, in equal proportions, well mixed and boiled together,

viz: new strained honey, glue, and molasses,

the glue being rst dissolved in water.

After use the elastic type should be cleaned with common burning-duid.

I have spoken of the ways M as being made adjustable; but, whenpreferred, they may be permanently secured in place without departingfrom the spirit of my invention.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,is-

The within-described apparatus, consisting of the adjustable bed G, withits elastic typeblock D, ways M, and gage I, operating substantially asand for the purpose set forth.

I. L. MILES.

Witnesses P. E. TEsoHEMAoHER, vN. W. STEARNs.

